Combination radioactivity borehole logging



0d 2.6, 1954 J. D. MaGKNlGl-rr COMBINATION RADIOACTIVITY BOREHOLE LOGGING Filed Dec. 29, 1951 NEX Raf/:55g 0F Hoz, 5 E I JNVENToR. c/OH '1). /l//4c /v/@HT Patented Oct. 26, 19554 U l I' COMBINATION RADIOACTIVITY BOREHOLE LOGGING .lohn D. MacKnight, Mount Vernon, N. Y., as-

signor to The Texas Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application December 29, 1951, Serial No. 264,119

(Cl. Z50-71) 13 Claims.

rIfhis invention relates to a method an-d apparatus for determining the nature of earth formations and more particularly to the logging of the formations traversed by Well or bore hole. Principal object of the invention is the provision of a method and apparatus by means of which at least three different kinds of radioactivity logs can be made with one passage of a logging instrument through the hole and which instrument contains but one source of radioactivity and one detector of penetrative radiation such as gamma rays.

It is ncrv Well known that there are several forms or kinds of radioactivity bore hole logs. "in perhaps the simplest form, that is, the natural gamma ray log, a gamma ray detector with its associated equipment is passed through the bore hole and a record is made of the gamma rays naturally emitted in the formations traversed by the hole. In another form sometimes referred to as the scattered gamma ray log, a source of gamma rays is passed through the bore hole and a gamma ray detector is also disposed in the instrument housing, this detector responding to or serving to detect gamma rays from the source which are scattered or diused in the surrounding formations, some of these gamma rays returning to the bore hole to strike the detector. With this type of log information such as the relative densities of the formations can be obtained while with the above mentioned natural gamma ray log information can be had as to the nature of the formations or, as an example, Whether they are shales, sands, limestone, etc. In still another form of radioactivity logging, a source of neutrons is passed through the bore hole, the neutrons in penetrating the surrounding formations causing gamma rays to be induced therefrom, some of which gamma rays enter the bore hole to strike a gamma ray detector disposed near the neutron source. This type of log is frequently referred to as an induced gamma ray log or a neutron-gamma log and provides information as to the velocities of the traversed formations.

Until recently the different logs mentioned above have been made with the use of a gamma ray detector of the ionization chamber type or of the electrical-pulseproducing or counter type. These detectors vary from around one to about .three inches in diameter and in length from about `ten inches to as much as three or four feet. Recently successful bore hole logs had been made using a scintillation detector or scintillometer as the means for detecting the radiation reaching the hole from the surrounding formations. For the same efficiency the scintillometer detector is much smaller than the detector of the counter or ionization chamber type and consequently much better definition as of the interfaces between adjacent formations can be obtained than with the use of other detectors. As is Well known a typical scintillometer usually comprises a body of luminophor in which scintillations or photons are produced when the body is irradiated by penetrative radiation, together with means for ccnverting the scintillations or photon emissions into electrical pulses corresponding in number to the number of rays penetrating the luminophor. For this latter purpose a photomultiplier tube is frequently used, the cathode of this tube being exposed to the luminophor. Many different types of luminophors can be used but one of the more common types comprises a crystal of sodium iodide, thallium activated.

in the past, if it were desired to make all three of the above mentioned radioactivity logs of a bore hole, it Would have been necessary to use several different logging instruments, each instrument containing a gamma ray detector, a preamplifier and perhaps a source of radiation, depending upon the type of log desired and each logging instrument would have to be run separately through the bore hole. Due to the length of a detector of the counter or ionization chamber type it would be practically impossible to include three detectors together with their preamplifiers and shielding and sources of radiation in a single instrument housing of a size which could be conveniently passed through a bore hole.

In accordance with the present invention a well logging instrument is provided which contains but one gamma ray detector, this being of the scintillometer type, one preamplier and a source of radiation and this instrument is of such form that all three types of logs can be made. Although the three logs are not made exactly simultaneously they can be made in increments or stages with but one passage or round trip of the logging instrument through the bore hole. To accomplish this result the detector is disposed in one end of the logging instrument housing at a distance of about six feet from the source of radiation disposed in the other end of the housing. The housing is then moved through a predetermined distance or section in the hole, for example twenty-five feet, and during this movement the detector responds to the natural gamma rays from the formations and thus, a natural gamma ray log is made. 'lo make the scattered gamma ray log the detector is then moved to a position fairly close to the source of radiation and the housing is again moved back over the same distance or section in the hole during which movement a log will be made of the gamma rays originating in the source which are scattered in the surrounding formations and gamma rays induced in the formations by neutron bombardment from the source. The detector is then lowered a little farther toward the source and in that position it will be surrounded by a scattered gamma ray 3 shield. By again moving the housing over the Same mit en induced eammagavloswill be made of the bore lhole section since the detector will respond to gamma rays induced in the formations by neutron bombardment. As indicated above, when the detector is in the intermediate or second position for making the scatteredgamma .ray -log it may also respond to induced gamma rays and it is preferred that the output. of the detector .when making the induced gammarray log .be subtracted from the output when making the combination scattered and induced gamma ray log so as t eliminate from the latter log 'the effect of gamma .rays induced by the neutron bombardment o f the formations in order to obtain a true scattered gamma ray log. Itis also .contemplated that the .output of the detector when making the natural vgamma ray g Can be subtracted from the outputs .Qf the detector when. making the combination scattered and induced gamma ray log and the true induced gamma ray log so as to eliminate from the latter two logs the effect of the gamma rays naturally emitted in the formations.

For a better understanding o f the invention, reference may be made to the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. l isa vertical elevation vthmugh.a 1portion of a well or bore hole showing suspended therein an instrument embodying the principles of the invention, and

Fig. 2 represents a section of alog strip showing three types of loss recorded thereon.

Referring to the drawing a bore hole iii is shown as traversing several subsurface formations such as the one indicated at l2. The bore hole il) can be either cased or uncased since gamma rays entering the hole from the surrounding formations will pass through the conventional steel casing with but veryl little loss. Shown as suspended within the bore hole is a logging instru ment indicated generally by the housing ill, this instrument being suspended on a cable it which may be o f the Yelectrical conductor typeand which at the surface passes over a suitable .measuring reel or .drum i8 which measures the amount of cable payed out and thus the depth of the instrument 1,4 in the bore hole. The instrument Hi is formedof an elongated tubular closed shell which serves to house the radiation detector, the pre.- ampliiien source of radiation, etc.

Disposed in the upper portion o f the instrument housing is a device 2li for lowering and raising lthe radiation .detector through the house. This device may comprise any suitable clock-work: mechanism or other device such as a small reversible electric motor connected through the cable I6 to an energizing or electrical switching device 22 at the surface. The device 2 2 may, for example, compirse a source of direct current and switch means! for reversing the polarity cf this current to the motor 2e so that the direction of rotation of the motor device can be controlled. Passing over a small pulley on the motor 2t is a cord or cable 2 4 from which is suspended a small housing y26 containing a scintillometer. A5 has been stated hereinabove, the scintillometer 28 comprises essentially a luminophor 28 which may be a crystal of sodium iodide, thallium activated, and a photomultiplier tube 3,0 serving to convert lthe photons from the crystal into electrical pulses. 'The output of the tube 3i) passes 'through the hexible cord .32 t0` a preamplier 34, theoutput` from which is conducted upwardly over the cable l5 to other ampliers indicated at 3.6, 3B and .46. The amplined output is in turn led to a suitable re- .or nlm strip type.

`as a mixture of radium and beryllium. Directly above the source lli is a shield or absorber 46 prefcrably of a material such as lead for absorbing gamma rays which might otherwise pass directly upwardly from the source. Directly above the shield ,26, is another cylindrical shield member i8 which like the shield 43 may be formed o f a metal such as lead. The shield 48 is of such thickness that it will absorb gamma rays from the source 44 which are scattered in the surrounding formation and which would `otherwise pass to the space within the shield. If desired, the upper ends of the shield iii may be tapered outwardly as at Eil.

In operation, the instrument i4 is preferably lowered to the bottom of the borehole L0 with the scintillometer 28 in the position shown in the upper part of the housing. The instrument is then pulled upwardly a predetermined di.,- tance, such for example as 25 feet, along a section or increment of the hole and during this time gamma rays naturally emitted in the formations strike the luminophor 28 and cause scintillations which are converted into electrical pulses by the tube 30. These pulses are preamplied at 34 and passed upwardly over the cable I6 to the amplifier A3G and from there to the recorder 22 where a record is made on a moving tape, a portion of which is indicated at 52 and Figure 2. The log being made during this operation will correspond to the portion -A shown in Figure 2. When the instrument I4 has traveled the distance of, say 25 feet, it will be stopped and the device 22 man ipulated to energize the motor 20 to lower the scintillometer 26 -to the position indicated by dotted lines at 26a. rlihe instrument lll will then be lowered over the same distance of 25 feet,v and during this time the detector will respond to the gamma rays from the source 44 which are scattered in the surrounding formation and returned to lthe hole, one of these gamma rays being indicated at 54, and also to gamma rays induced in the formations due to neutron bombardment from the source 44. During this movement of the instrument I4, the output of the detector will be passed to amplier 38 and then to the recorder 42 at which the combination scattered and induced gamma ray or B portion of the log will be made. The device 22 will then be again actuated causing the motor 2i) to lower the detector to its bottom position shown by the dotted lines 2Gb at which time it will be surrounded at its sides by the shield 48. The instrument i4 will again be pulled upwardly over the 25 foot distance during which time the detector will respond to gamma rays such as the one indicated at 56 which are induced in the surrounding formations due to the bombardment ofy the neutrons suchv as the one indicated at 58. During this stage the output of the detector 2t will be amplified at it and recorded at 42- to produce the induced gamma ray or C portion of the log indicated in Figure 2. The device 2-2 will then be actuated to energize the motor 20 in the reverseA direction to pull the scintillometer 26 upwardly to its original position and the entire instrument i4 can then be pulled upwardly through another distance, sayv 25 feet to make a natural gamma ray portion of the log of this second 25 foot increment. The operations previously described will again be carried out until the entire bore hole or at least that portion which is of interest has been logged.

As has been stated, the shield 48 will absorb those scattered gamma rays which might other- Wise strike the detector when at its lowest position. The scattered gamma rays are of low energy, i. e. 1.5 m. e. v. or lower and these will be absorbed while the higher energy induced gamma rays 56 will be able to pass through the shield to strike the luminophor of the detector.

Although a crystal of sodium iodide, thalium activated, has been mentioned as a suitable luminophor for the scintillometer, it is to be understood that this is by way of example only, since there are many other materials which could be successfully used, for instance potassium iodide, thallium activated and calcium tungstate. These materials are available in crystal form and all those which have been mentioned have the advantage of not being responsive to nuetrons. If desired one of the iquid luminophors may be used, or a luminophor of the plastic type as disclosed in the U. S. Letters Patent No. 2,559,219 granted July 3, 1951, to C. G. Ludeman.

It is also believed to be well recognized that the cathode of the commercially available photomultiplier tubes may be damaged or destroyed when used at a temperature higher than 75 C. Since it is not uncommon that temperatures as high or higher than this are encountered in well bores, it is to be understood that a suitable cooling means may be used to maintain the temperature sensitive portion of the scintillometer at a value at which it will function satisfactorily. For example, the scintillometer may, if desired, be encased in a heat insulating container such as a Dewar flask in which may be inserted cracked ice or the like before the instrument is run into the bore hole.

It is also to be understood that Figure 2 of the drawing is merely a diagrammatic showing of a section of a log which may be obtained with this invention. As has been stated hereinabove it is preferred that the output of the detector in its lowest position be subtracted from the detector output in the position shown at 26a so that the eect of the induced gamma rays can be eliminated to produce a true scattered gamma ray log. This can be accomplished in any suitable manner such as by subtracting the induced gamma ray log from the combination scattered and induced gamma ray log after the logging operations have been completed. Several methods of subtracting one log from another are described in the U. S. Letters Patent No. 2,352,433 granted June 27, 1944, to Gerhard Herzog. The natural gamma ray log can likewise be subtracted from the other two logs in order to eliminate from those logs the effect of the gamma rays naturally emitted in the formations. Although the three logs have been described as being made in the sequence illustrated in Figure 2, it is to be understood that this is not essential. For instance, the scintillometer 26 can be lowered all the way to its lowest position so as to make the induced gamma ray low following the making of the natural gamma ray log.

Since the logging instrument has been described as being moved in one direction i, e. upwardly for making the natural gamma log and then downwardly for making the second or combination scattered and induced gamma ray log, these directions must be taken into consideration in studying the resulting logs. If desired, the

second log can be reversed with respect to the second and third logs so that all three logs will appear as having been made while the instrument is moved in the same direction.

Again, although the invention has been described in connection with the logging of a well or a bore hole it is to be understood that the same principles will apply in other applications such for example, as in radioactivity surface surveying where the instrument may be pulled along or parallel ot the earths surface.

Obviously many modincations and variations of the invention as hereinbefore set forth may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and therefore only such limitations should be imposed as are indicated in the appended claims. By secondary radiation is meant any radiation originating in the source and scattered in the surrounding formations such as scattered gamma rays, or radiation induced in the formations by bombardment of the formations by direct radiation from the source.

I claim:

1. The method of making a natural gamma ray log and a secondary radiation log of earth formations traversed by a section of a bore hole, which comprises moving through said section a source of penetrative radiation and a gamma ray detector to measure gamma rays naturally emitted in said formations, said measurements being made at a fixed distance from said source and said distance being suciently great that the detector will be out of range of secondary radiation produced by said source, moving said detector to a new position closer to said source where it will be exposed to said secondary radiation, again moving said source and detector along the bore hole section to measure the secondary radiation from said formations, recording the first mentioned measurements to produce a natural gamma ray log of the bore hole section and recording the second mentioned measurements to produce a secondary radiation log of the bore hole section.

2. The method described in claim l in which the operations are repeated section by section through the bore hole.

3. The method described in claim l in which the measurements of naturally emitted gamma rays are subtracted from the measurements of secondary radiation to produce a true secondary radiation log.

4. The method of making a natural gamma ray log, a scattered gamma ray log and an induced gamma ray log of earth formations traversed by a bore hole which comprises moving through at least a section of the hole a neutron-gamma ray source and a gamma ray detector of the scintillometer type, so as to subject the detector to naturally emitted gamma rays while the detector is spaced far enough from said source to be out of range of radiation produced thereby, recording the response of said detector to produce a natural gamma ray log of said section, passing the detector to a new position where it will be subjected to gamma rays scattered from and induced by said source, repeating the move-l ment of source and detector along said bore hole section and recording the detector response to produce a combination scattered and induced gamma ray log, passing the Adetector to another position to subject it to said induced gamma rays while shielding it yfrom said scattered gamma rays, again moving the detector and Source along said section while recording the detector output message@ 7. to .produce an' induced gamma ray log, subtracting the last mentioned log from said combination scatteredand induced gamma ray log to produce a scattered gamma ray log, repeating the foregoing operations along other sections of the bore hole.

5. The method of examining earth formations traversed by 4a bore hole which comprises moving through a `section of .said hole a source oi neutrons and gamma rays and a gamma ray detector of the scintillometer type while subjecting said ldetector to the gamma rays naturally emitted from said formations, Ythe detector being spaced from said source Ysuiiciently for it to be out of range of gamma rays scattered from and induced by bombardment from said source, stopping said movement, passing said `detector to a second position closer to said source where it will :be in the range .of gamma rays scattered from the source in said formations and gamma lrays induced in said formations by `bombardment by neutrons from lsaid source, again moving said source and detector along the same section of the bore hole, again stopping said movement, `passing the detector to a .third `position still cioser to the source and subjecting iit .to said induced gamma rays while shielding rit from said scattered gamma raysand'again movingit along the same section of the bore hole, recording the output of said detector yduring each movement along said bore Ahole section, so as to make consecutively a natural gamma ray log, a scattered plus an induced gamma ray -log and an induced gamma ray log, subtracting said induced gamma ray log from the scattered plus induced lgamma ray logto obtain a scatteredgamma ray log, and repeating these operations through other sections of said bore hole. f

6. A radioactivity bore hole logging yassembly comprising an elongated housing adapted to be passed through said'bore hole, a source of neutrons and gamma rays in one end of said housing, a detector of penetrative radiation disposed near the other end of the housing and spaced far enough from said source in that position to be out of range of gamma rays scattered in the material around said housing and induced gamma rays produced by bombardment'by said source of the formations surrounding the bore hole, means for moving said detector to a second position closer to said source where it will be within the range of said scattered and induced gamma rays, means for shielding the detector VJfrom -said scattered gamma rays when in said second position, Ymeans for moving said housing through the bore hole while the detector is ineach of said twopositions, and means for recording the output from said detector While in each of said positions.

7. A radioactivity bore hole logging assembly comprising an elongated instrument housing adapted to .be passed through said vbore hole, a source of neutrons and gamma rays in one end of said housing, a scintillometer radiation detector disposed near the other end of the housing and spaced far enough from said source in that position to be out of range of gamma rays scattered and induced by bombardment lby said source of the formations surrounding the bore hole, means for moving -saidvdetector to-a second position closer to said source where it will be exposed to gamma rays scattered and induced in said formations by bombardment from said source, means for moving said detector to athird positiontnearrsaid source .where-it will be exposed tosaid induced .gamma rays, means-for shield.-

ing said detector trom said seat-tered gamma-rays whiledin said third position, means- Ifor moving said housing through. the bore ho-le While the detector is in each of said threeY positions and means for recording the-output :from said detector ifi-each of said positions.

f8. apparatus as described in claim 'l in which vthe detector moving means isdesigned to return the detector fromv the third position -to the first mentioned position so that the bore hole can 'be logged section by section without Withdraw-ing lthe instrument housing `from the hole.

9. An apparatus as described in claim '7 in which 4the detector moving means comprises a reversible electric motor in the instrument housing, means at the surface for energizing ysaid motor 1in one or the-other direction, a pulley driven 'by said motor and a flexible cable con-- neoted to the seintililometer and a passing over said pulleywherebyon energization of the motor the detector Willllbe raised -or lowered within the instrument housing.

10. An apparatus as described in claim 7 in which said shielding linea-ns comprises a cylindricai member of a gamma ray absorptive material, said member being disposed substantially coaxialrly `of said instru-ment housing slightly abovesaid source so that when the lscintillometer isI lowered to its lowest position it will enter and be surrounded vby the shielding material which will absorb-.gamma rays from said source scattered `in thesurrounding formations.

'11. method of mak-ing an induced gamma raylog `and a scattered gammaray log of earth formations traversed by a section of a bore hole which comprises mov-ing through said section a source of' neutrons and gamma rays and a gamma ray detector, said detector being positioned with respect `to Vsaid source at a dis-tance suchy that the detect-or will be exposed both 'to gamma rays induced in the formation: by the bombardment thereof with 'neutrons from said source and. to gamma rays from said `source which are scattered in said formation andv -r-eturned to lthe bore hole, recording the detector output to produce a combination induced and scattered gamma ray log or said section, rnoving said detector to a new position at a different distance from said sou-roe, shielding the vdetector in said new posi-tion from the said scattered gamma rays while still exposing the'detec'tor to said induced gamma rays, again moving the detector and source along saidsection while recording the detector output to produce an induced gamma ray log and subtracting the last-mentioned log from said combination induced and scattered' gamma ray log to produce a scattered gamma ray log.

12. The methodv described in claim l1 in which the operations are repeated section by. section through the borehole.

13. Themethod described in claim l in which the operations described therein are conducted along( the -earths surface. rather than in abore hole. I

References'Ci-ted in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,220-,59r Brons Nov. 5, 194i) 2,303,688 Fearon Dec. 1,1942 2,508,772 Pontecorvo May- 23, 1950 

